Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: show-tunes
Song Meaning of “Finishing the Hat” by Brian Stokes Mitchell
Finishing the Hat is a powerful ballad about coming to terms with unfinished business and saying goodbye to past chapters. Through Mitchell’s uplifting vocals, the lyrics are an ode to a loved one whose absence is felt. It is a bittersweet lament as Mitchell reflects on the wisdom gained through the end of a relationship.
The song starts off with Mitchell singing about “the page that’s never finishin'”, a symbol of the wounds that have never been fully mended. He is finding it difficult to turn the page and move on, remembering all the moments he shared with his partner and ultimately learning to accept that life will never return to the way it was.
The chorus lines of “it’s not a crime, it’s just a shame” speak of the pain of coming to terms with heartbreak, and how the decision to end something can be difficult. Each verse highlights a different stage of the healing process: the guilt and anger at the other person and himself, the search for understanding and trying not to lose sight of what they had together, and ultimately accepting things as they are – even if they are not perfect.
The song finishes out with Mitchell’s powerful promise that, despite his struggles, he will keep on going and “finish the hat”. It’s a call to be resilient despite the pain of loss, and a reminder that life goes on.